An encounter is underway between security forces and terrorists in Handwara area of Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per ANI report, about two to three terrorists are believed to be trapped. The fresh reports of gunbattle has come a day after security forces gunned down two terrorists in the state’s Baramulla district.

Weapons were also recovered from them after the encounter. Entire area was also cordoned off for some time after the encounter, ANI said. Also the internet services were temporarily suspended around the vicinity. A joint team of SOG and CRPF and 22 Rashtriya Rifles conducted a military blockade at Pazalpora village.

The terrorists were hiding inside a house in Pazalpora village in Sopore township of the district. Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation on Sunday night, soon after receiving intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. A police official, while speaking to PTI had said that the search operation was stopped for for the night but security forces continued with cordon off operation to stop terrorists from escaping. “The operation was resumed this morning and the gunfight started after the trapped militants opened fire on the forces,” the official was quoted as saying. Even on Sunday night, terrorists threw two grenades and fired at CRPF’s 180 battalion camp in Tral town in Pulwama district.

Last month, in a similar incident, two local Hizb-ul-Mujahideen terrorists, responsible for a grenade attack on Police, were killed by the security firces in an encounterin Sopore town. During the gunbattle, two soldiers were also injured . While explaining the situation, a police official had told the PTI that a joint party of Army’s 22 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police conducted a search operation after receiving an information about the presence of terrorists in Nathipora area of Sopore.